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Radon levels in Washougal buildings prompt emergency declaration

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: April 22, 2010, 12:00am

Washougal Mayor Sean Guard has declared an emergency as a result of the high levels of radon gas in city buildings. The declaration allows the city to hire mitigation specialists without going out to bid for the work.

Guard called a special emergency meeting of the city council at 4:30 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 1701 C St. The council will vote to approve the emergency declaration and suspend the normal bid procedures to award a mitigation contract. If the contract is approved, mitigation efforts would begin Saturday.

The Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency recommended the city hire certified radon mitigation specialists after tests last week at City Hall revealed high levels of radon gas. Testing measured radon levels between 11 picoCuries of radiation per liter (pCi/L) and 26 pCi/L, with the highest levels in the basement. The EPA suggests levels below 4 pCi/L.

Most city staff has been relocated to other buildings, and doors and windows at City Hall have been left open to ventilate the building. Still, radon levels measured 16 pCi/L in the basement Thursday morning. Guard ordered testing of all other city buildings. Those results should be back by Monday, he said.

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The city located one agency in the Portland-Vancouver metro area to provide the work, Cascade Radon Inc. of Portland. The company provided a bid of $19,077 to bring the radon levels to the EPA recommended levels and warranty the work for 10 years.

The company can mobilize crews Saturday and expects to complete the work by Wednesday. After a few days of post-work testing, city staff could be back in City Hall as early as May 3.

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Columbian Health Reporter